Gilbert c



G. C. VVHITNEY TRAIN INDICMQION 4SYSTEM Filed March 27, 1924 IIIMIM I ICwwl] 3/ 292 u 34 7 'flaw 415| f2 a@ 3g@ J5 l l n l Patented Ang. 17,1926.

UNITED sr.

GILBERT C. W'HITNEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TBAINIIIBICATIN SYSTEM.

This invention relates to train describers and train indicators ingeneral wherein means are provided to indicate the position or describethe movement of a train on a railway track and in particular to novelmeans for accomplisl'iing the aforementioned results with a minimum ofexpense both as to first cost and maintenance.

It is the general custom on railroad systems to install means wherebythe position of a train may be known at some selected point, such, forexample, as the tower from which switches and signals are controlled, ordespatchers headquarters where it is a desideratum in the propermaintenance of train schedules. This means sometimes takes the form ofaudible indicators, such as bells, track relay indicators, electriclamps and the like and when electric lamps are employed .they aregenerally of miniature size and allocated in a track model. 1When soassembled they form what is termed an illuminated track indicator, etc.,etc. information as to the occupancy of the track, however repeated orexhibited at the selected point, is `generally obtained from a contactof a track relay or repeater and the circuit controlling thetrackindicator is influenced by the track relay as will be appreciated.Since the track relay is a component part of the well known trackcircuit, the rail section of which varies in length and very oftenreaches a length of one mile,

and since the track relay is generally limited to three positions andcustomarily installed to operatel in two positions, it is apparent that,at best, the track relay and consequently any train indicating orannouncing means controlled thereby' is a track section 'indicator; but,even this -is only presumptive beapart by insulated ]o1nts S-the trackrails cause the presence of a train on a track circuit is not essentialto the operation of the track relay. To overcome thel foregoing defect,to accomplish the same 'without moving parts, and to, in some instances,eliminate the use ofinsulated 'track rail joints are general objects ofthis invention and additional objects will be disclosed as the speci-[ication proceeds and I will point out the novel features in theappended claims.

In my co-pending application, Serial No. 697.129, I have disclosed thesame principles as hereinafter set forth but as applied to railway'traiiic controlling systems.

I have provided six figures on the accom- The Application led March 2'?,1924. Serial No.. 702,262.

panying drawing toclearly set forth the application of vmy invention topresent day track circuit design and an installation for use innon-signalled territory to indicate train movement therein. Fig. 1 showsthe main element of my invention arranged to provide indication as tothe presence and movement of a train along a specified track section andwherein said train presence and movement is indicated by the appearanceor variation in brilliancy of an electric lamp or other similarlycharacterizable means in the indicator system; Fig. 2 is similar to Fig.1, except that train presence inthe track section is presumed dueto thefact of disappearance of the electric indicator lamp or othercharacterizable means but Fig. 2 does not provide forindicating trainmovement; Fig. 3 is similar to Fig. 1 with the addition of meansintermediate in the track section for contrasting characterizableeffects in theindicator system; Fig. 4 is similar to Fig. 1 except, thataudible indication is given when the train enters the track section andthe electro-magnetic indicator follows through in synchronismwith thetrain in the track section; and Fig. 5 shows a section of track withoutinsulated joints and which has the principle of my invention applied forindicating presence a`nd movement of the trainthe individual indicatorapparatus in the tower or at the selected point being identical withthat shown in Figs. 1, 2 land 3. Fig. 6 is a diagram associated withFig. 5 to illustrate the performance of the indicator lamp relatively tothe position and movement of a train on the track section. Similarelements and Darts are designated by the same characters in all of theiigures.

Referring to Fig. 1, a track section is set of the section beingidentified by the reference characters 6 and 7. At one end 'of saidtrack section a transformer 9 is shown connected to track rails 6, 7 bymeans of track wires 10, 11, resistance 12 and fuse 13. rlfransformer 9is the medium, when energized by means of wires 14, 15, from power wires16, 17, connected to the source of energy alternator 18, by whichappropriate current supply, when a train is not present, is transmittedover track rails G 7 to track wires 19, 20, fuse 21 and resistance 22 towinding 23 of relay 24. Winding 25 of relay 24 receives energy by meansof wires 26, 27, from power wires 16, 17, and thus far the wholeconstitutes the well known alternating current track circuit whereinmost of the energy required tor the operation of the track relay 24 issupplied locally and only a small part or activating current istransmitted over the track rails. Also in conventional manner I haveshown signal S2-33 controlled by contact 2S or' track relay 24 andcontrol wires 29, 30 and 31. rEhe track and circuit and signal andcircuit design outlined above is intended simply as a structure and Imake no claims of invention in connection therewith-it is shown only to'provide a basis for suitably illustrating' my invention.

This invention consists in connecting theprimary winding 35, oftransmit-ter transformer 34, in multiple with resistance 12, as shown,and so that part ot the current ilowing to windingr 23 of relay 24passes through said winding 35. Inductively coupled to winding 35 isshown secondary winding 36 and the 'current induced therein is carriedover transmission wires 37, 3S, to the tower or other selected point andthere energizes winding 40 of transformer 89. Inductively coupled towinding 40 is shown secondary winding 41 and the current induced thereinbecomes available and is used for energizing' indicator lamp 42 or othersimilarly appropriate means as will be appreciated. When the tracksection is not occupied by a train winding 23 and resistance 22 areincluded in series in the circuit receiving current which passes fromtransformer 9 and through winding 35, but when a train enters the tracksection the wheels of the train, having'negligible resistance, shunt outsaid winding and resistance and due thereto more current flows fromtransformer 9 via winding 35. The increased rate of current flow variesdepending upon the position of said train in the track section, beinglowest when the train is furthest dista-nt from transformer 9, becauseof the resistance of the track rails 6, 7 as will be appreciated. Fromthe above it will be clear that the current flow in the transmission c'cuit 37, 38, and consequently illumination of indicator lamp 42 will beleastv when said track section is not occupied and will variablyincrease with the entrance onto and passage of the train along towardthe transformer end of said track section.

I am aware of the fact that it is not novel, in a signal system, toutilize the increase in current iow in a track circuit, when it becomesoccupied by a train, to `control a signal lamp and, therefore` myinvention does not reside in the tact that my system provides similarcontrol, by my invention does reside in the fact that II have provided asystem which makes use of the above mentioned control for trainindication purposes and also whereby the variation in current flowresulting trom the train occuping various positions on the track railsot the track section is an indication as to the comparative position andmovement ot the train on the track section.

From the forego-ing', it will be evident that a low voltage must beapplied to the track rails oi" the track circuit because of the leakagethrough the ties and ballast. New, as has been explained, it iscustomary to transmit the indication to a central point, such adespatche1"s headquarters, and the successful system must cover aconsiderable territory, and, owingl to the great number of circuitsinvolved, economy d mands that small wires be used in the transmissioncircuit and naturally only small transmission current can be tolerated,otherwise the loss in transmission would not only be prohibitive, butwould otherwise intertere with the indication, as will shortly beexplained. Starting, then, with the necessarily low track circuitvoltage I provide inductive coupling' 34 to act as a step-uptransi'ormer to provide a higher transmission circuit voltage and thecorresponding transmission current tor indication purposes is ot theorder ot 0.015 ampere and less. Now, as is wellknown, an indication lampor high voltage and low wattage (one watt and less) is not commerciallypossible because oi the inability to provide a lamp filament which willheat on a current tlow or the above mentioned order ot 0.015 ampere andless and accordingly I provide receiver transformer 39 ot the step-downtype and wl'ierein the resultant induced indicating current flow to lamp42 is of the order ot 0.080 to 0.0350 ampere and at an operating voltageot from approximately one (1) volt to ve (5) volts. Thus, it will beevident that, in the use of the receiver transformer (39), means havebeen provided to effect an indication on a very small transmitted powerand with minimum in the losses incident to transmission. A minimum inthe losses during transmission is important for the reason that thevariation in track circuit current flow, as between the tra-in or car atone end ot the track section and at the other end of the track section,is small and every last ell'ort must be made to conserve the results,oit' the variation, during transmission to the indication device.

In Fig. 2, I have shown my invention arranged to indicate the conditionof the track section in a ditlerent manner with the track sectionunoccupied the indicator lamp is arranged to be lighted and when a trainenters upon the track section winding` 35 of the transmitter transformer34 has its current supply reduced by virtue oit the train wheel shuntand consequently the illumination ot indicator lamp 42 is reduced. It

should be obvious that, as arranged in Fig. 2, indication of movement asthe train passes through the track section cannot be had.

In Fig. 3, I have shown the system illustrated in Fig. 1 supplemented bya resistance 43 introduced into the track section to provide means for adistinct contrast in the indicator system when the train passesinsulated joints 8a. When installed thus indicator lamp 42 is arrangedto indicate occupancy and movement in the lirst portion of said tracksection at not over 50% illumination of said indicator lamp 42 andpassage of train into and along the second portion is indicated byincrease ot illumination between 50% and 100% as will be appreciated.Obviously, I may install a plurality of resistances 43 or reactances atsuitable points and thus provide a plurality of distinctly contrastingindicating points. I provide transposition ot track circuits whenever Iinstall distinct contrasting points to insure that the track relay otthe section, when installed, will be open it any insulated joints 8break down.

In Fig. 4, I have shown the system illustrated in Fig. 1, but with anelectromagi'ietic visual indicator 44 supplemented by an audi.- bleindicator, in this instance a bell, 45 in place ot indicator lamp 42 ofFig, 1. Indicator 44 is biased to the position A and the bell 45 isarranged to be silent when the track section is not occupied. @n thepassage of a train onto the track section the increased current flow dueto the train wheel shunt causes increased induced current to 'flow inthe transmission circuit A37, 38, and hence increased current low `tothe bell and indicator 45, 44. Said increased current flow to the belland indicator causes the bell to sound single stroke or continuous andat the same time the movable portion 47 of indicator 44 lmoves throughthe space 46 to eventually arrive at position B-this movement, however,is arranged to be synchronous with the passage of the train through thetrack section and isbrought about by the variation in current ilow dueto the train wheel shunt in its movement along the track section varyingthe resistance of the circuit of which the track rails 6, 7, form a partas will be appreciated. It should be noted that movable portion 47, inpractice would not be exposed to view in the space 46 unless a. train ispresent on the track section. It should also be noted that bell 45 maybe placed in series in the circuit of indicator 44.

In Fig. 5, I have `shown my invention arranged in a system of trainindication and without the use ot insulated joints. Track rails 6, 7,are shown continuous and I have shown three transformers 9 to supplycurrent to the track at selected points, approximately though notnecessarily equidistant. Said transformers 9 receive energy from sourceof energy supply alternator 18 by way `oi: power wires 17, 16, andbranch wires 15, 14. rlhe secondary windings oic transformers 9 areconnected to the track rails 7, 6, by means of track wires 11, 10.Connected in series in each of the secondary windings I show primarywindings 35' o transmitter transformers 34 and inductively coupled tosaid primary windings I show transmitter secondary windings 36, each ofwhich is included in aV transmission circuit 37, 38. Included at thereceiver end of said transmission circuits I show, inductively coupledthereto, indicator lamps 42-the receiver end ot these transmissioncircuits are identical in principle with that described in connection inFig. 1. I show track rails 6, 7 short-circuited by reactances C, D, andE at suitable places between the points where current supply track wires10, 11, are connected to said track rc ils. 'Ihe characteristi/cs ot allinductive apparatus are proportioned such that the current supplied tothe respective indicator lamps 42 is a maximum when the track rails 6,7, are short-circuited, as by a train wheelshunt, at the correspondingpoints ot currentfsupply track wires 10, 11 and said maximum conditionvaries as said train wheel shunt moves either way from said points withslow reduction until said train wheel shunt passes a trackshortcircuiting reactance and thereafter at a rapidly increasing rate,as illustrated in Fig. 6 and wherein a train is assumed to be a pointonly `for the purpose of clarity. Referring to said diagram the solidirregular line traces out the value of current sup-- ply to indicatorlamp 42GB as the train wheel shunt approaches and traverses tracksection CI) reaching a maximum when the train wheel shunt is adjacenttrack wires 10, 11, tor that section and reaching a practical minimumrapidly when and as said train wheel shunt passes a very short distanceoutside oi" said track section similarly, the dot and dash lineillustrates similar conditions for the track section and correspondingindicator lamp DE and so on to the end ot the system. Obviously, a trainis not a point and the representative lines in the diagram will broadenand overlap .in the proportion that said train point takes on thedimension, length.

Attention is directed to the following `lacts:

1st. That in several installations, I have used 1 watt indicator lamps,and consequently have been successful in using small inexpensivetransformers and further owing` to the saall amount ot power transmittedmy system makes use oit small gauge transmission wircs (No. 10 ii. Vf.and smaller) with the econoi. lc result that my system is extremelycheap to install.

2nd. That I may interchange the several elements ot the several tigures,for example, l may use the electromagnetic and/or audible indicator' oifFig. l in the system of Fig. l.

3rd. That, Whereas means in the 'form of an impeding element (forexample resistance i2, Fig.; l) are required to prevent the train Wheelshunt being a short circuit on transformer Q the same may be eliminatedand the 'if ction performed b y Winding 35 of transfert (see Fig. inwhich event the en required tor the opettion ot my .sys n is that whichWould otherwise be di 'pated in the form of heat in the impeding clementand therefore when thus arranged no additional povver equipment orexpenditure for current supplied is required.

lth. That my system operates with a minimum of parts and thus to effecta minimum of expense in maintenance cost.

5th. That the current iloiv in the inductive coupling 35, 36, isvariable and proportionable to the position of the train in the tracksection, that is, the current tlovv due to the train .vheel shunt va 1iand has dilierent value as the train proceeds through said tracksection.

Y 6th. That, although the voltage which can be applied to the trackrails is limited to a low value, as in present day track circuits, onaccount ofballast leakage, my system lends itself very readily for trainWheel control of hiO'h power circuits and Without moving parts.

P5th. That the track relays or other devices and elements, to whichcurrent is transmitted may be termed receiver devices, or receivers.

th. That the indication is responsive to the movement oi' the train.

9th. That track reactanees Cl D E (Fig. 5) may be` eliminated in whichevent the operation oit my system Will still be ei'l'ective but lesscontrastly distinctive.

10th. That transmitter transformer 234i may be included in series in theprimary circuit oi transformer 9 instead of the secondary circuitthereof.

lith. That the system of Fig. 5 is eiilective regardlers ot thedirection in Which the train moves.

12th. rihat, given the length of train and track section, the time oftransit of member 'l-7 oi" i dicator (Fig. a) is a function from whichtrain speed may be determined.

13th. That the system of Fig. l is not dependent, for its indicationoperation, on the installation ot a. track relay or other apyiaratus atthe opposite end of the track circuit.

l-lth. That my system may be incorporated into or ineuctively coupled tomany iorms oi existing alternating current track circuits with a minimumof expense and exchanging of apparatus. I

Obviously, various types of track circuits, both alternating and directcurrent, of the single and double rail type may be employed incombination with my invention by making the obvious appropriate changesWell kiioivn to any one ordinarily skilled in this art and I desire tohave it understood, therefore, that the arrangements and illustrationswhich I have shown and described are merely illustrative and do notexhaust the various embodiments and forms which my invention may take ingeneral practice.

l--laving thus described my invention I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent:

l. lin a train indication system, a track circuit including a source ofenergy, and indication means indiiictively coupled to said trackcircuit, said indication means synchronously indicating themovement of atrain on said track circuit.

2. ln a train indication system, a track circuitincluding a source oienergy and indi-- ation means, said means indicating the movement of atrain on said track circuit by comparative variation in the energizationot' said means.

3. In a train indication system, a track circuit including a source ofenergy, and remotely located indication means synchrono-usly responsiveto the movement of a train On said track circuit.

4f. In a train indication system, a track circuit including a source o'lenerg Y, a transmission circuit, and indication means, said transmissioncircuit inductively coupled to said track circuit and said meansinductively connected to said transmission circuit.

5. In a train indication system, a track circuit including a source ofenergy, and a remotely l( rated indicator lamp inductively coupled tosaid track circuit and comparatively indicating the position of a trainon said track circuit.

(i. In a train indication system, a track circuit including a lsource ofenergy, and an indicator lamp inductiv-ely coupled to said circuit forindicating the movement of a train on said track circuit by increase inbrilliancy of said lamp.

7. In a train indicating system, a track circuit including` a source ofenergy, an impeding element in series with the energy supply to saidtrack circuit, an inductive coupling in multiple With sail element, andan indicator lamp inductively coupled to said circuit and indicating themovement of a train on said track circuit by variation in illuminationof said lamp.

8. ln a ytrain indica-ting system, a track circuit including a source ofenergy, an impeding element in series with the energy supply to saidtrack circuit, an inductive coupling in multiple with said element, andan indicator lamp inductively coupled to said inductive coupling andindicating the movement of a train on said track circuit by gradualdecrease in light emitted by said lamp.

9. In a railway traiiic controlling system, a track circuit including asource of energy, and a remotely located indicator lamp inductivelycoupled with said circuit, said lamp without illumination when the trackcircuit is unoccupied and with illumination when said track circuit isoccupied, said il'- lumination gradually increasing or decreasingaccording as the train moves in o ne direction or the other on saidtrack circuit.

10. In a railway traflic controlling system, a track circuit including asource of energy, and a remotely located indicator lamp inductivelycoupled with said circuit, said lamp illuminated when the track circuitis unoccupied and with increased illumination when said track circuit isoccupied.

l1. In a. train indication system, a track circuit including a source ofenergy, an indication transmitter connected in series with said source,and an indication receiver inductively coupled to said transmitter andadapted to comparatively indicate the distance between a car on saidtrack circuit and the point where said energy is connected to saidtrack.

12. In` a train indication system, a track circuit including a source ofenergy and a track transformer, an impeding element connected in serieswith said circuit, a second transformer connected in multiple with saidelement, a third transformer connected with the second transformer, andindication means connected with the third trans-V circuit including asource of energy and a track transformer, a second `transformerconnected in multiple with the second transformer and indication meansconnected in multiple with the third transformer, said third transformerand indication means re-4 motely located from said second transformer. f15. In a train indicationsystem, a trac circuit including an alternatingcurrent source of energy, and remotely located indication meansinductively coupled to said track circuit, said means indicating thepresence of a train on said track circuit and sensitive to indicate aplurality of positions of said train during its movement on said trackcircuit.

16. In a train indication system, a track circuit including analternating current source of energy, and'remotely located indicationmeans inductively coupledy to Vsaid track circuit, said means indicatingthe presence of a train on said track circuit and sensitive tocontinuously indicate the movement of said train during its progress onsaid track circuit.

17. In combination, a track circuit including the track rails of arailway track section and an alternating current source of energy supplyfor said track circuit, and indication means responsive to variations ofenergy flow in said track circuit as between a track section unoccupiedand occupied by a car, said indication means sensitive to indicatevariations in the energy flow inthe track circuit as the car moves onsaid track section.

18. In combination, a track circuit including the track rails of arailway track section and an alternating current source of energy supplyfor said track circuit, and indication means responsive to variations ofenergy flow in said track circuit as between a track section unoccupiedand occupied by a car, said indication means sensitive to indicatevariations in the energy flow in the track circuit according as the caroccupies one position or another on the track section.

19. In combination, a track circuit including the track rails of a`railway track section and an alternating current source of energysupply for said track circuit, and an indicator lamp constantlyenergized and responsive toV variations of energy How in said trackcircuit as between a track section` unoccupied and occupied by a car,said indicator lamp sensitive to indicate variations in the energy flowin the track circuit according as the car occupies one position oranother on the track section. Y v

20. In combination, a track circuit including the track rails of arailway track section and an .alternating current source of energysupply for said track circuit, and an indicator lamp responsive -tovariations of energy flow in said track circuit as between a tracksection unoccupied and occupied yby a car, said indicator lamp withpartial illumination when the track section is occupied and withvariable degrees of brilliancy in synchronous responseto variations inthe energy flow in the track circuit, the lastmentioned variationsresulting in accordance .with lchange of car position on the tracksection.

` end of said section and supplying said electric current to said trackcircuit, an inductive coupling connected in series with said source, andan indicator lamp connected to Vsaid inductive coupling and adapted tocomv10 Vparatively indicate the distance between a car at any point onsaid section and said end of said section.

22. The invention set forth in claim 2l, with the indicator lampinductively coupled to said inductive coupling.

23. ln combination, a section of railway track, a source of energyincluding the secondary winding of a transformer connected to the trackrails at one end of the section, a winding of a transformer connected inseries in the circuit which-includes said secondary winding, atransmission-circuit including two windings one of which is in inductiverelation to the winding of the second mentioned transformer, and acircuit including an indicator lamp in inductive relation to the otherof said two windings, the

energy flow in said indicator lamp influenced by the presence andmovement of a train on said railway track, said lamp having anappreciably higher degree of brilliancy when the train is at the end ofthe track section at which energy is supplied to the track section `thanwhen the train is at the opposite end of said track section.

24. The invention set forthv in claim 23; characterized by a pluralityof said indica- -tor lamps for adjacent track sections being `assembledto form a train indicator diagram.

'25. A railway signaling system comprising a section of railway track,an automatick block signal and system for governing train movements onsaid track section, a signal receiver apparatus associated with saidsection, and an electric transmitter apparatus Vincluding train wheelsand adapted to continuously transmit an indication to said receiver`apparat-us as to the position and progress-of 4said train wheels onsaid section, said transmitterv andr receiver apparatusl actingindependent of said block signal.

26. In a train indication system, a section of railway track, anautomatic block signal and system for governing movements of trains onsaid section, andan indicator lamp connected to said block signal systemandwithout indication illumination-when said section is not occupied bya train and with indication illumination when saidsection is occupied'00 by a train, said indicatorV lamp having indication illumination ofone value lor another according as the train occupies one part oranother of said trackA section,for indicating whether said trainoccupies one part or and other of said track section, said indicatoractingy independent of saidV block indicator lamp indicating` thepresence and i f movement of a car on said railway track.

28. A train indication system comprised of a section of ralway track, asource of energy, transformers for supplying said energy .to said trackat a plurality of points, reactance elements connecting the rails ofsaid track between the points of energy supply, and means for utilizingsaid energy to indicate the presence and movement of a train on saidsection of railway track.

29. it train indication system comprised ofi a section of railway track,a source of energy, transformers for supplying said energy to said tracksection at a plurality of points, an indication transmitter connected inseries with each of said transformers, and

indicator lamp connected with each of aid indication transmitters, lforindicating the movement of a train on said section by variation in lightemitted by said lamp.

30. A. train indication system comprised of a section of railway track,a source of energy, transformers for supplying said energy to said tracksection at a plurality of points, an indication transmitter in serieswith the energy supply to the track rails of said track, and anindication receiver for each transmitter, each transmitter responsivelycontrolling the corresponding receiver as a train moves on said sectionof railway track, each receiver indicating the movement of a train onsaid section of railway track.

A train indication system comprised of a section of railway track, asource of energy, transformers for supplying said energy to said tracksection at a plurality of points, indication transmitters inductivelycoupled to` said supply, a transmission circuit for each transmitter,and remotely located indication means synchronously responsive tovariations in the energy flow in said transmission circuit caused by themovement of a train on said section of railway track.

32. A train indication system comprised of a section of railway track, asource of energy, transformers for supplying said energy to said trackat a. plurality of points, indication transmitters inductively` coupledto said track, and indication receivers includingindicator lampsinductively coupled with said transmitters, said lamps energized fromsaid source and with partial illumi illumination VaryingL as a car moveson said track.

33. A train indication system comprised ol a. section of railway track,a sourcel ot energy, transformers for supplying said energy to saidtrack at a plurality of points, indication transmitters inductivelycoupled to said track, and indication reteivers con-4 nected to saidtransmitters, each receiver at times indicating the presence oit a trainon said track and at times continuously indicating the movement of atrain on said track.

34. A train indication system comprised ot a section of railway track, asource ot energy, transformers for supplying said eneri-gy to said trackat a plurality of pointsa transformers in series with the secondary ottlie first mentioned transformers, transmission circuits in series withthe secondary of tlie second mentioned transformers, a third transformerin series with eacli of said transmission circuits, and indicator' lampsconnected to the secondary of said third transformers.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of N ew York this25th day oi March A. D. 192%.

GLBERT C. WHTNEY.

